No fewer than 250 elderly persons in Nasarawa State have benefited from the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme by the First Lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at an event to distribute the support on Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State the wife of the President said each of the beneficiary would receive N100, 000.
The first lady represented by Mrs Shela Tosan-Akabe, Wife of the Deputy Gov. of Nasarawa State, said the gesture was borne out of a steadfast commitment to well-being of the elderly.
The President wife said that the scheme was designed to support elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federal and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
“The beneficiaries were carefully selected from the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs):across the country and each beneficiaries will get N100, 000.
“N25 million will disburse to the 250 beneficiaries that were selected from the 13 LGAs in the state,” she added.
The First Lady expressed optimism that the support would go a long way to cushion the effect of the economic situation and alleviate the burdens of the elderly during this festive period.
She further explained that N250 million was approved by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative and every state and the FCT would get their own for onward disbursement to beneficiaries.
Also speaking, Haj. Silifat Sule, First Lady of Nasarawa State wife of Gov. Abdullahi Sule, lauded the Nation’s First Lady for the gesture.
Silifat Sule said this gesture was unique because it was targeting the elder in the society that most times they were forgotten.
She also called on the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously for the benefit of themselves and their love once.
In her goodwill message, Aisha Rufai, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development commended the first lady for the support at this time.
The Commissioner said that modalities were put in place to ensure that the beneficiaries get their monies directly and not through a third party.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Marriam Rabiu expressed gratitude to the first lady for remembering them and prayed to God to bless her and hur husband to succeed in thier administration. (NAN).